Seat pad and cushion



Sept. 6, 1938. p HA 2,129,353

SEAT PAD AND CUSHION Filed Sept. 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Septufi, 1938.E. P. HARLEY SEAT PAD AND CUSHION Filed Sept. 4,

1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I q 3 NV NT fnsk/ne P. fl

##orngg Cir Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT PADAND CUSHION Erskine P. Harley, Oklahoma City, Okla. ApplicationSeptember 4, 1936, Serial No. 99,373

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to seat-pads and cushions and, moreparticularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in, seat-pads andcushions of the resilient ventilated type.

My invention has for its object the provision of a seat cushion of theclass stated which is inexpensive in structure, which will to thecomfort of the user readily conform yieldingly to the contours of thehuman body, which will permit free circulation of air between the bodyof the user and the chair or other support upon which the cushion isplaced, which is of exceptional strength, durability, and resiliency andpossesses high resistance to permanent deformation in use, and which isefiicient in the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Figure 1 is a perspective Viewof a seat-cushion constructed in accordance with and embodying mypresent invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cushion, a portionof the upper wall or cover of the cushion being broken away fordisclosing the cushions internal construction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cushion, takenapproximately on the line 3--3, Figure ,2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the cushion,taken approximately on the line 4-6, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view of the cushion similar to Figure 2, showing theinternal construction of another portion of the cushion;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the cushion taken approximatelyon the line B-6, Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a slightly modified seat-cushionembodying my present invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the cushion of Figure '7, aportion of the upper wall of the cushion being similarly broken away fordisclosing the internal construction of the cushion; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cushion takenapproximately on the line 9-9, Figure 8.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, the cushion, as a whole preferably includes a seat section orpad A and a back-rest B joined together for relative swingable movementby a flexible hinge-strip C of fabric or other similar material.

The seat-pad section A and the back-rest section B are substantially ofsimilar construction, each comprising an upper wall or top coveringmember 2 and a lower wall or bottom cover member 2, each, in turn,constructed preferably from burlap or similar type of loosely wovenfabric having a large number of interstitial openings for allowing thefree circulation of air therethrough, the walls or cover members I and 2being stitched or otherwise permanently secured together along theirmarginal edges, as shown at 3 in Figures 1 and 2, and the stitchedmargin of the cushionmember being enclosed within a suitable binding D,which, as best shown in Figure 1, is continuous around both thecushion-members A and B.

Thus, as it may be said, the stitched or otherwise secured together topand bottom cover members i, 2, of each respective member A, B, form anenvelope or shell 3 for housing other parts, now

to be described, of the particular cushion-section or member.

Disposed within the so provided shell or envelope, is an outer ormarginal convoluted spring element 4 formed in a preferably circularshape along a shape-defining wire member or frame 5, the opposite endsof which are brought together in abutting relationship, as shown at 6 inFigure 2, and clampingly secured in a sleeve or thimble l, the springelement 4 extending continuously around within the shell s, as shown inFigure 2, and having its opposite ends joined together in any suitablemanner.

Also disposed within the shell s, is a second convoluted spring member 8disposed in a spiral form within the confines of the outer or circularspring-member 4, the member 3 at one end being tangentially disposed,and by a wire or cord lashing 9, secured to, the outer spring member 4and to the bottom cover-member 2, as shown at In in Figure 6.

From such point of connection H), the spring member 8 extends inwardlyand spirally to the center point I I of the particular cushion-memberthrough a continuous spiral channel I2 formed between the topcover-member i and the bottom cover-member 2 by a continuous chain ofstitches H, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4, both the outer or marginalspring member 4 and the spiral spring member 8 bemg thus held againstany substantial sidewise or radial shifting or deformation in use.

"he outer or marginal spring member t and the inner spiral spring member8 are each formed in a plurality of convolutions, which are angularly orobliquely disposed to the axial center line of the respectivespring-member, as best seen in Figure 3. Hence, when the weight of thebody is impressed against the top edges a of the particularconvolutions, as indicated in Figure 3, the convolutions will tend topivot about the bottom edges b thereof in the direction of the arrow,thus providing a very flexible or yielding action without producing anyappreciable permanent deformation or distortion in the convolutions ofthe particular spring elements 4, 8. Further the various adjacent turnsof the particular spring elements 4, 8, are relatively free, therebyobviating any tendency of the convolutions of one segment of aparticular spring element binding against the corresponding convolutionsof an ad jacent segment. At the same time, the spring elements 4, 8,being substantially confined within the channels I2 formed by the spiralstitching I3, which brings the top and bottom members of A and Bimpingingly or directly together, any tendency of the spring elements 4,8, to shift sidewise is most effectively overcome, Finally, the innerspiral element 8, being fixed to the outer element 4 by the lashing 9,is positively held from crawling, as it may be said, or becomingdisplaced from its proper position relative to the outer or marginalspring element 4.

The back member or rest B is constructed in substantially the samemanner as the seat member including a shape-defining member or frame andspring members, in all respects similar to the frame 5 and the springmembers l, 8, of the seat-pad A and, joined swingably to the seatmemberA by the hinge-strip C, consisting preferably of an elongatedfabric-like strip of material stitched or otherwse secured along itslongitudinal margins respectively to the back member B and the seatmember A, thereby holding the sections in somewhat spaced apartfree-swinging relation and thus forming a unitary structure readilyopened and conveniently disposed upon a chair, automobile-seat, or thelike, it being obvious, however, that each of the top members I and eachof the bottom members 2, respectively, of the seat and back A and B may,While not here specifically shown, be unitarily formed from singlepieces of material and suitably stitched in the area which wouldcorrespond to the connecting member to serve as an integrally formedhinge or flexible connecting element. Further, while also notspecifically here shown, the members A and B may constitute separate andindependent cushions, the binding D being completed upon each unit.

The cushion may also be of a rectangular form, as shown in Figure '7. Asthere appears, the cushion comprises a rectangular top cover-member Iand a similar rectangular bottom covermember 2 formed similarly of aburlap or other open-weave material, the top and bottom covermembers I,2, being secured together in shell formation along their marginal edgesby a chain of stitches 3 and a binding strip D and also beingtransversely stitched by spaced rows of stitches I4, 55, to provide ahinge portion C and thus dividing the cushion proper into a seat portionI and a back portion 2.

Disposed within the shell 8 of the seat portion I, is a continuousconvoluted spring-member I6, which is formed on and around a rectangularshape-determining element or frame having its ends brought around intoabutting relationship, as shown at I1 in Figure 8, and clampingly heldin a sleeve or thimble T.

The convoluted spring member I6 extends longitudinally along and aroundone side, as g, of the frame 5 to one corner thereof, is then bent awayfrom the frame 5 to extend in a line parallel and laterally spaced fromthe frame-side g to a point on the adjacent transverse side of the frame5, and is then continuously and successively disposed backwardly andforwardly between the opposite transverse sides of the frame 5 in a sortof serpentine fashion across the entire extent of the seat portion I,the springmember I6 being disposed in a continuous serpentine-likechannel formed in the shell s between the top and bottom cover membersI, 2, thereof by suitably spaced rows of thread stitches or the like I8,I9, 28, 2|, 22, 23, and 24.

The convolutions of the spring-member I6 are likewise angularly disposedto the axial line of the spring in the same manner and for the samepurposes and advantages as previously described in connection with theconvoluted spring-members 4 and 8 of the cushion-members A, B.

The back portion B also includes a rectangular frame orshape-determining element and a convoluted spring-member, which aresubstantially similar in all respects to the rectangular frame 5 andconvoluted spring-member I6 of the seat portion A, thus in a similarmanner providing a unitary cushion having hingedly connected resilientback and seat portions, readily unfolded for convenient disposition upona chair, automobileseat, or the like.

The seat pad or cushion of my present invention is particularly durableand yet exceedingly resilient and comfortable, the unique interiorresilient or spring elements being exceedingly flexible and yieldable ina manner requiring a minimum amount of deformation in the convolutionsthereof. Further, such interior resilient elements readily elasticallyconform to the contour and shape of the body in use, and yet are notsubject to permanent mashing or deformation. Finally, the presentseat-pad or cushion provides a substantial constant amount of freeventilating space between the body of the user and the chair or othersupport upon which the cushion is placed, the convolutions of thespring-members tending at all times in use to move into overlyingstaggered relation rather than to flatten and bend.

Of course, as previously stated, single seat-pads or cushion elementsmay be constructed in accordance with the present invention, thusproviding a pad which may be used separately as a seat cushion or backcushion according to the desires and tastes of the individual user.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theseatpad or cushion may be made and substituted for those herein shownand described without departing from the nature and principle of myinven- Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. As an article of manufacture, a seat cushion comprising a pair ofcompanion-shaped cover members marginally secured together to form anenvelope, a rigid shape-defining frame member disposed within theenvelope, a first convoluted spiral spring member disposed within theenvelope, said spring member being mounted on and extending continuouslyaround the frame member, a second convoluted spring member attached atits one extremity to the first spring member, Said second spring memberextending inwardly of the first spring member in a diminishing spiralfor substantially filling the envelope and resiliently urging the covermembers thereof away from each other, and a diminishing spiral row ofstitching securing the cover members together in surface contact in theformation of a spring enclosing spiral channel for confining said secondspring member against unauthorized lateral movement.

2. As an article of manufacture, a seat cushion comprising a pair ofcompanion-shaped cover members marginally secured together to form anenvelope, a rigid shape-defining frame member disposed within theenvelope, a first convoluted spiral spring member disposed within theenvelope, said spring member being mounted on and extending continuouslyaround the frame member, a second convoluted spring member disposedwithin the envelope, means rigidly connecting the outer end of thesecond spring member to the envelope, said second spring memberextending inwardly of the first spring member in a diminishing spiralfor substantially filling the envelope and resiliently urging the covermembers thereof away from each other, and a diminishing spiral row ofstitching securing the cover members together in surface contact in theformation of a spring enclosing spiral channel for confining said secondspring member against unauthorized lateral movement.

ERSKINE P. HARLEY.

